Question:
Am I gaining weight due to working out or eating to much?

I have been working out REALLY hard! It seems like the weight isn't coming off. I think I have been eating Ok. A sample day for me would be aprox 5 different meals. The meals consist of- Low carb bread with cream cheese and 1 egg. 2 string cheeses and a handfull of almonds. small bowl of salad will peanuts and cheese on top. Protein Bar. If I am still hungry later I may have some cottage cheese and half a bannana before bed. For liquids I drnk Water, crystal light, Tea, Fat Free low in Sugar Cocoa. Stuff like that. I trat myself to a Sugar free fat free Mocha or a Sugar Free Low Carb Milkshake from Low Carb Grocery usually daily. But here is the thing. I am an Assistant Martial Arts instructor. I workl out about 3 hours a day and over the last month or so weeks I have added weight lifting and jogging. For some reason the SCAL ISN'T MOVING!!!! In fact I think it has gone up. So much work and so little to show with the weight loss. I also noticed I am hungrier more now. Seems like the more I work out the hungrier I get. I think I get about 1500 Calories now. I don;t think I should go higher than that. I have gone from 334 Lbs to about 164 now. I thought at one point I was down to about 159 but after getting on the scale I was wrong. What is going on with me???? I get discouraged and don;t want to workout when I don't see weight loss. I am 10 months out....will I see 150?? Am I eating to much? Anyone else have this problem? This adjusting to eating more is hard!! Help!    — Kicker (posted on July 17, 2003)

July 17, 2003
If I were you, I'd check with an exercise physiologist, or a nutritionist who knows about calorie expenditures and exercise. You're working out a lot, so you won't want to lower your food intake too much - you won't have enough energy to do what you need. Maybe you just need to adjust "what" you're eating. Maybe try no-carbs for a while. I think adding the weight training could possibly slow your weight loss (I had that happen when I started using our Bowflex machine - but I lost inches!). Good luck and congratulations on your success!
   — Carlita

July 17, 2003
you sound exactly like me. I had my wls on 9/20/02 and i was loosing like crazy and really up'd my workouts, doing 5k's and 4-5 miles everyday and weight training and the scale said......ZILCH I could have freaked out. I don't know if it is just at the time to start slowing down now or what but I don't get it. I eat about the same as you and the same thing is happening. I went to the Pouch Rules for the plateau buster last night and started that today to see if that works. I cannot stop working out as I am completely addicted now so that is not an option but the weight has to go. I am 30lbs to goal you might try the pouchrules thing We can compare. [email protected] Peggy open rny 9/20/02 -140lbs
   — Peggy A.

July 17, 2003
Muscle weighs more than fat! If you are working out that much, you are developing muscle! That is what is up here. I am sure you are loosing inches, just not lbs, that is OK! Keep up the good work, and it is not just about the scale! It is how you look and feel!
   — Jacklyn C.

July 18, 2003
I agree with Carla, you need to see a nutritionist. It could even be possible that you need to add calories in the form of protein (add a shake after you work out) and see if that helps. Your body may be thinking that it needs to hold on to everything to provide you with the energy you need. A nutritionist can tell you where you need to be as far as your menu goes. Good luck, you must feel great, don't forget that!
   — Dana B.

July 18, 2003
The foods you listed cannot add up to 1500 calories. I had the same problem. I got a personal trainer and all my weight loss stopped. My personal trainer told me that I would not lose weight unless I added more food to my diet, and I didn't until I did just that. In addition, if you don't raise your caloric intake and you start to lose weight, you'll be losing muscle, not fat.
   — MURRAY